1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 44-c, W-5230. Rarity-6+. Outlined Shield, Sleigh Runner. Fine Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). 137.0 grains. 27.1 mm. One of the outstanding rarities in the New Jersey series. In 2012, when Syd bought this from a local contact who had paid less than $50 for it in a Philadelphia coin shop, he believed this to be the 12th example recorded. When we sold the E Pluribus Unum specimen in 2019, there had been just five auction offerings of this Maris number since the midpoint of the 20th century. That coin made for the sixth, and now this sale - to be auctioned for the first time ever - is just the seventh auction offering in over 70 years. None were in Craige, Dr. Gordon Shaw, or Partrick, and no other specimen has been sold since 2019.<p><p>The devices are light brown, contrasting with granular dark brown fields. The centering appears ideal, and the central devices are bold, including the distinctive namesake "sleigh runner" plow. The rims have worn into the peripheral legends slightly, but they remain legible and mostly intact. The date is mostly present but not bold. With good color, and no significant flaws aside from non-smooth surfaces, this is actually a very appealing lower grade specimen of one of the classic rarities in the series.<p><p>Two EF examples are known, both with classic provenance: the Maris-Garrett coin and the Spiro-Ford coin. After that, its tough sledding, with all other known examples graded Fine or lower. Two of the top six are impounded, one in the New Jersey Historical Society, the other in the American Numismatic Society. In Ford, Mike Hodder cataloged this as Rarity-7 and noted he had seen just six of these. PCGS# 767829. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from a Philadelphia area coin shop; Dan Burleson, July 2012.
